Help Blue America choose our first candidate for 2010

These are five progressive House incumbents who have all done exceptional jobs this year and who deserve our support in their re-election bids. Please help us pick one to be the first Blue America endorsee for 2010--and a recipient of a $2,000 check from our PAC. Please only vote once. We'll announce the results in a week. (We haven't endorsed anyone yet so we're not asking you for any donations at this time, although the PAC is always working on something or other-- from Blanche Lincoln, healthcare reform and Blue Dogs to ending the occupation of Afghanistan--and support is always welcome. So are your suggestions.)

The candidates

Donna Edwards (D-MD)

Donna Edwards (D-MD)- Donna has been on the frontlines of the struggle for a progressive America long before she galvanized the grassroots to help her unseat a corrupt, conservative incumbent two years ago. She's been our inside person every single day, keeping her colleagues aware that people outside the Beltway and outside the corporate hierarchy have certain expectations from our elected officials.

Alan Grayson (D-FL)

Alan Grayson (D-FL)- Alan has set grassroots Democrats on fire this year with his plain spoken onslaught against Republican lies and obstructionism. Representing a Republican-leaning district, his courageousness and brilliance is driving the GOP mad and inspiring Democrats around the country-- and perhaps even in Washington.

Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ)

Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ)- Raúl, co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, has been the single biggest factor in the CPC's recent strategies to ensure that a public option becomes part of the healthcare reform bill. An organizer by trade and a bold progressive to the core, he has been at the center of building progressive power inside Congress.

Barbara Lee (D-CA)

Barbara Lee (D-CA)- Barbara is chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and a living, breathing profile in courage. When Bush asked Congress for an authorization to use force after 9/11 she was the only member-- in either House-- who wasn't willing to get stampeded into what she foresaw as the tragedy it has become.

Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)

Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)- Jerry was one of the House whips for a meaningful public option in the health care reform bill, but our community knows him best as Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on The Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, where he has been a leader on ending warrantless wiretapping, curbing the ability for the executive branch to hide behind the state secrets privilege to cover up torture, rendition and other abuses of power, and repealing the repugnant, so-called Defense of Marriage Act.